The Blues have conjured an impressive run of form with 11 consecutive victories across domestic and European competition, eight of which have come in the league, propelling us to the top of the table ahead of our trip to the East Midlands.

Our previous league outing saw us grace the turf at Stamford Bridge for an eagerly-awaited London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on 20 November. Sam Kerr, Erin Cuthbert and Guro Reiten were on the scoresheet to secure three points which saw us move to the top of the league.

We carried this momentum into Europe when Real Madrid were the visitors to Kingsmeadow in the UEFA Women’s Champions League last week. Sophie Ingle’s second-half header followed by another Cuthbert stunner, secured a 2-0 victory which extends our lead at the top of Group A to five points.

December is a busy month for the Blues with five matches to play before the Christmas break, three of these coming in the Champions League and another two in the WSL, starting with the trip to Leicester this weekend.

When and where?

We face Leicester at the King Power Stadium in the Women’s Super League this Saturday 3 December, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm (UK time)

How to follow

As always, you can follow the game via Chelsea Women’s social media channels. There will be live commentary on our Twitter page and regular updates on Facebook and Instagram. Simply search ‘ChelseaFCW’ on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Supporters who cannot attend will be able to watch the match which will be made available on the FA Player.

The form

Since returning to domestic duties, the Blues have picked up from where we left off in the league. We followed up the 3-1 victory over Manchester United before the players departed for the international break with a 3-0 victory over Tottenham upon our return.

After seven straight league victories, we occupy first place in the table with 21 points, having won seven and lost one of our opening eight league matches. During this time we have scored 20 goals, conceding six in the process leaving us with a goal difference of +14.

Including penalties, we have scored a league-high eight Barclays WSL goals from set-piece situations this season. Cuthbert is looking to score three in a row for the first time since her first three appearances in the competition in April to May 2017.

Leicester have seen a change of management in recent weeks with Willie Kirk replacing Lydia Bedford at the helm. They come into this game sitting 12th in the league table and are looking to register their first points on the board this season.

In their latest league encounter, Leicester fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat at West Ham United on 20 November. Hammers substitute Isibeal Atkinson netted an 88th-minute winner off the bench, subjecting Leicester to late heartbreak in east London.

Leicester Women vs Chelsea Women recent head-to-head record

Our previous league meeting with Leicester came in March of last season, where we produced a devastating display in front of goal and secured a 9-0 victory at the King Power Stadium.

Kerr, Reiten and Bethany England netted braces that afternoon while Aniek Nouwen, Jessie Fleming and Lauren James got their names on the scoresheet.

We also met Leicester in the FA Cup in February and progressed with a 7-0 victory on home soil, where Harder and Kerr netted braces alongside goals from Nouwen, England and Ji So-Yun.

In the reverse league fixture in October of last season, we recorded a 2-0 victory at Kingsmeadow. Goals from Harder and Fran Kirby in the final 10 minutes secured the victory that day.

Next up for the Blues

The team faces a swift turnaround and return to UEFA Women’s Champions League action this Thursday 8 December, as we head to Spain to face Real Madrid on matchday four.

We are looking to secure qualification for the knockout phase, having won all three of our matches to date without conceding to establish a five-point lead at the top of Group A.

Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm (UK time) and the match will take place at the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano in the Spanish capital.